A Special Report
Brien Sheahan’s term on the Illinois Commerce Commission concluded a couple of months ago. He was Chair Sheahan at the ICC for a considerable time but also arguably the most respected voice among utility regulators nationally on the grid’s resilience.
We still do call Brien Sheahan "Commissioner Sheahan" though his term on the Illinois Commerce Commission concluded a couple of months ago. Indeed, he was Chair Sheahan at the ICC for a considerable time but also arguably the most respected voice among utility regulators nationally on the grid's resilience. And now he's concentrating on this current crisis and the implications for regulators and the utilities themselves of course. We grabbed a few minutes from the always thought-provoking "Commissioner" as well to see what's his take on the situation we find ourselves in.
PUF's Steve Mitnick: What should utility regulators and utilities be thinking about and doing to face this coronavirus challenge?
Brien Sheahan: State regulators and the utility sector deserve high marks for their initial response. Ensuring that the lights stay on, gas and water continue to flow, and that all households have uninterrupted access to services is critical.
The utilities have done an impressive job maintaining continuity of operations while their own workforce is dealing with the same public health issues as everyone else. That is a huge challenge. Many were also among the first to offer aid to communities and first responders.